Manakeesh is a flat baked dough with toppings. It is part of the Levant region cuisine, comprising Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine & Syria. Manakeesh evolved to be the one of the most beloved foods of the region, especially in Lebanon
To celebrate World Mankoushe Day a thread…
1/ Manakeesh is also known as “Manoush”, “Manaeesh”, and “Mankoushe”. Manoush came from the Arabic word “Manqushah”, which means “carve-out” or to stamp or decorate, which refers to the indentations made with fingers while flattening the dough for the toppings
2/ There is not much known about the origins of Manakeesh. However, the first known recordings of this dish was found in an Arabian cookbook which dates back to the 10th century.
3/ Traditionally, women would bake dough in the morning in a communal oven to feed their family, and with that, they would make small portions of dough using different toppings for breakfast. From here, the recipe evolved into the famous Manakeesh.
4/ Baked briefly in the oven, Manakeesh are both chewy and crispy. They may be served warm or cooled and are especially delicious alongside creamy labneh cheese, salty olives, and a few fresh bites of cucumber.
6/ Over time, Manakeesh has become one of the most important foods of the Levant region. Some toppings include minced lamb, mutton or beef, spinach, veggies, yogurt, Za’atar, and cheese.
7/ The most popular Manakeesh uses Za’atar as a topping. Za'atar is a culinary herb or family of herbs. It is also the name of a spice mixture that includes the herb along with toasted sesame seeds, dried sumac, often salt, as well as other spices.
9/ Minced lamb Manakeesh (لحم بعجين, laḥm bi-‘ajīn) is often served for lunch because of its heavier contents. This popular Manakeesh has a minced lamb topping mixed with tiny pieces of diced tomato & vegetable oil - optionally served with pickles & yogurt
10/ Manakish can be prepared pizza-style with a variety of fancy toppings. These may include cheese, meat (beef or turkey), mushrooms, labneh, cheese with honey, or chocolate with bananas.
11/ The question of whether Manakeesh or Pizza was invented first is still subject to debate today. Since tomatoes were not yet discovered in Ancient Rome at the time when people were spreading thyme & olive oil on flatbread in the Middle East, Manakeesh might have come first.
If you like this thread, check out our forthcoming Islamic Art & Culture Digital Festival happening online on 28 & 29 November.
Over 50 creatives, artists, experts & academics will explore the past, present. & future of Islamic art & culture
Scholars of Islamic culture contributed significantly to botany, herbals & healing, improving knowledge of plants. They classified plants into those that grow from cuttings, those that grow from seed, & those that grow spontaneously
A thread on botany & art in Islamic culture…
1/ The Holy Qur’an provided the initial impetus for the investigation of herbs by Islamic writers, as plants are named in the depiction of Paradise & are used as signs of the Creator’s power and majesty. Inspired by their faith, Muslims worked extensively in this area
2/ Muslim scholars also commissioned botanical studies due to the need for research on medicinal plants, to respond to medical needs & contribute to the physical & mental health of the community. They created the context of the advent of pharmacology in Islamic civilization
The art of Henna has been practiced in South Asia, Africa & the Middle East for over 5000 years. The botanical name of the henna plant is Lawsonia inermis. A member of the Loosestrife family, henna originally comes from Egypt.
A thread on the art of henna in Muslim cultures...
1/ The English name henna comes from the Arabic term الحناء (al-ḥinnā). The name henna also refers to the dye prepared from the henna plant and the art of temporary tattooing from those dyes. Henna has been used for centuries to dye skin, hair & fingernails as well as fabrics
2/ Modern scientists discovered that henna is antibacterial, antifungal, & anti-hemorrhagic & it has historically been used for medicinal purposes. However, although the use of henna has branched out since its discovery in North Africa its most popular use is still beautification
Ismail al-Jazari, a Muslim inventor from the 12th century is known as the "father of robotics" due to his groundbreaking work in the field of automata, which are self-operating machines.
A thread on Ismail al-Jazari, engineering & robotics…
1/ While robotics is considered a relatively new field of science, with the public’s consensus that it is the creation of 20th-century scientists, it would be surprising to know that the field has its roots in the medieval era nearly a millennium ago, with Ismail Al Jazari
2/ Ismail Al Jazari gained fame for his extraordinary inventions, encompassing a wide spectrum of marvels. His repertoire included robots programmed to provide guests with towels, programmable on-off switches for fountains, automated mechanical clocks & much more!
A Candle Clock from a copy of al-Jazaris treatise on automata
Spain is renowned for its Islamic heritage. A legacy left after the Islamic Empire ruled & conquered the Iberian peninsula in 711. By 732, Al-Andalus was established, leaving behind Europe’s finest Islamic art collection.
A thread on Islamic architecture in Spain, reimagined…
1/ In Spain, Islamic architecture is part of a larger movement that flourished in the Western Mediterranean area, leaving architectural marvels in modern Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Algeria.
Art @@EduArtGranada
@EduArtGranada 2/ Architecture and art are inextricably linked in Islamic culture. Islamic art showed the status of the caliph, and huge sums were spent on its production. This is evident in Andalusia.